DAY 18: On the go...

So, today is Halloween, and I knew I'd overdo it on treats, and honestly wasn't planning on exercising today. I ate 3 "mummy dogs" (hot dogs wrapped in croissants & SO cute by the way!), and a Rice Krispy Treat, along with a few Junior Mints. Plus, we haven't even gone trick-or treating, yet. We are going to a neighborhood we used to live in, and are leaving right after school -- 

which doesn't give me much extra time. 

I didn't exercise to the video today.

BBL has something called: Triangle Training Workout - Leandro's Signature Moves for an On- The - Go Workout. It's a series of cards from 1-10,  with special exercises on them. So you can take them if you are going some place where there is no TV/DVD player. So you can still exercise. I don't know if you are supposed to all of them or a select few, but I chose 3 of them. And REALLY felt like I was working those areas. Since I HATE the sculpt video so much, maybe I will just do these cards once in a while instead of sculpt. Is that cheating? Maybe. Am I still exercising? Yes. Isn't that the point? Yes. 

Trick or Treat!! 

DAY 17: ... so many titles

There are so many possible titles to this post, not sure what to call it. You decide:

• Candy, Cookies & Rice Krispy Treats - Oh MY!
• Water  - it does a body good.
• The McRib is BACK!!!
• Oh FINE!!! (all about being consistent)
• Was that a Fart?

Candy, Cookies & Rice Krispy Treats - Oh MY!

Yes, We have all 3 of these in our house. I was able to say no to the first 2, but I had to make 30 Rice Krispy Treats for my daughter's class for her halloween party tomorrow.
I mean come on - how cute are these?

Yeah, so what are a few nibbles here or there... or 3 WHOLE bars? Oops... but they sure were good.

Water - it does a body good.
So, I'm not a big water drinker... I never have been. Ever since Jr. High, I can remember getting a soda everyday with lunch. I love me some soda. Over 12 years ago, I had a health scare that I attributed to caffeine - so I had to give it up cold turkey. I can have little bit at a time, but not everyday - definitely not Coke or coffee (maybe that's why I am always so exhausted)! Anyhow, I DO like non-caffinated soda. Especially SQUIRT!! My absolute favorite! When I drink anything, that is my beverage of choice, and we are usually well stocked. But since I've been doing this workout - water sounds so good! And my mouth gets so dry - only water will quench my thirst. I am actually drinking water! It really does a body good.

The McRib is BACK!!!
Yeah, so today I made myself some healthy meals that I got off of the Biggest Loser website. They look really good, and taste even better! Taco Salad & Deviled Eggs with Hummus.

Then, while we were out at a Halloween event, we had to make an impromptu trip to McDonalds for my daughter who was acting very grumpy and obviously needed to eat, like now. THAT is when I saw it: (insert angelic "ahhhh"here) THE MCRIB!!! Ever since they started periodically serving the McRib, my family (growing up) has felt a deep fondness toward the McRib. So - even though the 500 calories were clearly displayed, I ordered one. I have to say - that was 500 REALLY YUMMY calories! Oops again!

Oh FINE!!! (all about being consistent)
I was so tired, and had kind of a long day, and have a super long day tomorrow. So after I was done making lunches and pretty much being "done" for the night. It was way after midnight, and I was even starting to get nauseous from being so tired (or was it from the hummus eggs?). I told my husband I was going to forgo the exercising tonight, but I needed him to tell me that was okay - just so I didn't feel like I a flake. And he said "NO. I think you SHOULD exercise." (GASP!) The NERVE!!! Just kidding. He said, "I think you should do it, but not the whole thing. At least do some of it - it's all about consistency. A little bit every day is better than a lot every once in a while. You always feel better about yourself when you live up to your highest ideals. Being able to say you've exercised for 50 days in a row means something." That's true. He is right - I always feel better about myself when I put in the effort - even when it's not all the way!

Was that a Fart?
So, I DID my workout. I did the sculpt video for 30 min (instead of the full 55 min) I hate that video. I always do it without the weights just in case. But it still bugs my back & shoulders.  Also, I've never noticed this before & maybe our DVD player is just dirty, but I swear every once in a while I can hear somebody fart in the video! My husband heard it too. It happened 4 times. It's a long, high-pitched kind of like a squeal. Weird. (Thomas Orona, were you hiding in our house somewhere?)

So that's it for today! Happy Halloween! I think I will not be exercising tomorrow. We'll see!

DAY 16: Obrigado pelos crepes!

Today, I actually did my work out before midnight. I did Cardio for 30 min & Bum Bum (butt) for 35 min. I did the whole thing... And was done by a little after 6pm. Yay! That means I get to watch the "Biggest Loser" tonight when it's actually on, instead of recording it to watch later after my workout (as my treat). 

When I said I did my whole work out, it wasn't all at once. I barely have enough stamina for 1 set, not to mention 2. So I did Cardio first, then ate some crepes my hubby made from scratch. I had 3! I had 1 with cream cheese & strawberry jam (it was so good it made my cheeks tingle). Then I had 1 with butter & cinnamon sugar. Then I had 1 with bananas, Nutella & mini marshmallows. Mmmmm! They were SO good!! I just HAD to partake! "Thanks for the Crepes". 

Then I worked off those calories (let's hope) by doing the Bum Bum workout. I really worked up a sweat with that one. It was hard, but I think my butt is getting used to that one. It doesn't seem to hurt as much afterward like the first time... I guess we will find out tomorrow. 

I am really beginning to like the word: Obrigado. Obrigado means "thank you" in Portuguese (the language they speak in Brazil). When ever I hear Obrigado, I know the set is done - and it makes me happy. 
So I thought an appropriate title for my post would be: Obrigado pelos crepes! (Thank you for the crepes!)

DAY 13, 14 & 15: Forget... and Forgive

After 2 pieces of pepperoni pizza, with extra garlic butter sauce on them...

Okay, I am back after the weekend. Truth be told - I was supposed to exercise on Saturday... whoops - I forgot!! Truthfully, and honestly - I just FORGOT! I got busy doing other things, like finishing my son's Halloween Costume (Herobrine, from Minecraft) and exercising just didn't happen. Oh well. So, NO SATURDAY, NO SUNDAY, and technically, NO MONDAY (I didn't start until after Midnight). My daughter reluctantly went to school kicking & screaming (literally) - My wonderful husband took her to school, so I could go back to sleep. But my son was home sick today. After I picked up my daughter from school, I had just about enough time to eat my lunch, and then run to school again to pick up my son's homework. Then after that, it was pretty much homework for the rest of the night. He had to do everything he missed today + homework. It took forever, but at least he is feeling better. And after homework (even though it was WAY past his bedtime), I let him watch 30 minutes of TV with me, while I rubbed his head. I wanted to show him I love him more than homework! :)

As for forgive, earlier to night, after the kids went to bed- I realized my Back & Shoulders didn't hurt!! What??? I guess 3 days with no exercise did them some good! So As long as you forget, your body might just forgive you!!!

Tonight  I did the sculpt video. It's 55 minutes. I did 30 minutes of it. I mean - come-on, even though I slept in, It's past 1am, and I need to go to bed! I'm tired! I purposefully did it without weights. But I was starting to feel a little pinch in my upper back (other side than last time). So I had my husband rub it half way through. After the exercising, I am starting to feel a little tightness in my shoulders. I am pretty sure that means I am gaining muscle. Let's hope so...

I am eating 1/2 horribly, 1/2 great! I love wraps, & cereal. But being October, there is something called CANDY. I am not much of a candy person, but I have been lately...

I hope I can do my workout earlier in the day tomorrow - this midnight stuff is killin' me...
Checkout my son's herobrine costume:

DAY 12: Don't "Weight" for me... I'll be a while!

Friday - Oct 25:  Don't "Weight" for me... I'll be a while!

<-----I just thought this was cute!!!

Yay! Reese went back to school today - coughing, but still there. So went I got back from taking the kids to school, I ate my Fiber-One cereal (which is delicious by the way) - watched a little TV while I ate - and got right to exercising!! :)

The BBL plan for today was 30 min of  Cardio, which I did... And 55 min of Sculpting (with weights). Keep in mind - this is the first time I've used weights at all in 1.5 weeks, on purpose, to give my back a rest. Well, I don't think it's my back it's affecting. It's my shoulders. Remember yesterday how my shoulders were so tight? Well, the weights were not helpful there. By about 15 min in, I was really starting to feel it. And so I continued the movement with no weights... I lasted about 20 more minutes. 

35 min +30 min... Not bad for one day.

I guess I can try to do the sculpting without weight equipment for a while... I guess I'll have to until my shoulders recover, then I can always add weight a little bit at a time.

But for now, Don't "weight" for me... I'll be a while! :)

DAY 11: "For Better or for Worse"

Thursday 10/24 -

My daughter was sick again today... I am hoping & praying she improves enough by morning to go to school - she seems fine during the day... And I hesitate to keep her home in fear of "the letter" I received last year after my son had so many absences (simply from being sick - I promise)! This makes 4 days this month!! After 10, I get a letter, and after 12, I get another letter saying I have to have a note from the doctor saying she is healthy enough to go back to school. So I kind of feel like "for better or for worse", she needs to go to school...

So today was a little hard. Not just because she was home, but because my son's homework brought out the worst in both of us. 

Basically, he feels like I think his homework is more important than he is & I don't love him... Oh my goodness! There is something I need to work on... My husband took over with homework, thank goodness, and played mediator while we had a good emotional talk. Talk about your heart breaking while your 10 year old son is balling while you are hugging him, because his heart is breaking (I have tears as I write this). He has always been a sensitive kid, but man - this time was a little different. I felt really bad. I really need to ease up on the homework thing... And reassure him that "for better or for worse" I love him!!!

Today, I didn't start my exercise until after midnight. I was already emotionally exhausted, and physically tired too, but I made a commitment. So I exercised as best I could for 35 min (high & tight). Boy are my legs sore!! After that, I pretty much passed out on the fold-up  mattress I was using (the yoga mat hurts my hips too much on the tile floor)... "For better or for worse" also refers to the way by body is feeling. Better is my back... Worse is my shoulders. They are tighter than tight... So painful! That is part of the reason I didn't do the abs exercises...

So - that is today... Not too much excitement with exercising, but lots of stuff none the less.

Until tomorrow "For  better or for worse" I WILL keep at it...

Nighty night!!

DAY 10: 27 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Work Out Today

 I came across this hilarious article called:  27 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Work Out Today. So I thought I'd open up with a link to that. It is pretty silly, but some are kinda true. My personal favorite is #18. It totally sounds like something I'd say... check it out:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinlarosa/27-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-workout-today

But don't worry - I DID work out today!

I took my own advice & worked out earlier in the day today. I went to bed last night around 2am. Then my daughter woke up at 5am coughing, sneezing, sniffling, and was having a hard time breathing. So I was up with her for a while. Then she was wide awake again before 7am, which is my wake-up time.  She did not go to school today, but my son did - so I had to get up anyway... with less than 5 hours of sleep. 
So, I didn't have much free time without kids today - and when she was playing in the room, I took a nap. I felt sooo much better. 
After I picked up my son from school - I was determined to do my workout. Today was a 35 min "Bum Bum" (butt) video and a 55 min Sculpting video - with weights. Because of my back injury, I opted not to do the Sculpting video until Friday. But I REALLY did get a workout with Bum Bum. I really worked up a sweat, and I know my butt is gonna be killing me tomorrow.
I can't help but wonder if I should keep pushing through, or stop working out altogether while my back is hurt? As it is, I'm not doing EVERYTHING that is on the plan. But is it helping my back to get it moving again, or am I hindering it by pressing on? I really wanted to be done with this 2 month plan by Christmas... and follow it as close as I could. I have to admit - it felt really good to watch the last 10 minutes on the couch last night. :)

Tomorrow is High & Tight (35min), and Tummy Tuck (20 min) just like yesterday. I'm gonna do the whole thing tomorrow & press on this week. We'll see what happens by the weekend. I think having done it for 2 weeks might give me an idea of what it will take to continue.

As for eating, I am not totally picking and choosing from the menu, but I am watching my calories. So- hopefully that is enough.

Until tomorrow, I came across this picture on Facebook, and thought it was totally appropriate (please excuse the naked lady - I covered as much as I could...):

Day 9 - ... and we're "BACK"

Well, I did more today than I thought I'd be capable of... I don't know if that is a good thing, or a bad thing...

The BBL plan calls for 35 minutes of "High & Tight" which is basically working out and toning your legs, and 20 minutes of "Tummy Tuck", which is abs.
MY plan was to do only the standing section (there are 3 sections) of High & Tight, with no bands or weights... They always have a version with no equipment so that is helpful. Well, I did 25 minutes - standing AND laying down. I wasn't too sure about the laying down part, being that my back is still pretty sore. But I did it. I realized I was switching legs at the end, and wasn't supposed to... then he said okay Switch. Oh well, I watched the last 10 minutes from the couch! :)
I wasn't planning on doing Abs, because I haven't be able to do a sit-up since Saturday. I have been rolling onto my side, and using my hands to push me up. But I decided to give it a go, since my upper back is the one that is hurting, not my lower back which is what it uses. I did all but about 5 minutes, and YES, it hurt. My abs, AND my upper back. There is a lot of stretching and pulling, and using muscles I forgot I had. So I am in a little more pain than I was, but my abs hurt so bad during the workout - that I didn't even notice much of the pain in my upper back, and I tried to stretch as much as I could.
Now I am noticing it - so I am sitting in the massage chair as I write this... 

I think I am learning something. I need to exercise earlier in the day. At night, I just get so tired - and it stresses me out. The house is a mess, I still have to make lunches for tomorrow, I would like to take a shower before bed, and it's 100 o'clock! Okay, it's midnight, but feels like 100 o'clock. The reason I did this so late is because I procrastinated. I knew what I had to do, and put it off till way later, when my back was hurting. My back seems to hurt after a long day. I always feel better about myself when I do it earlier in the day... Tomorrow's session is like 1.5 hrs... Not sure if I have time (or the stamina) for that... maybe an hour. But I guess we'll see.

I wanted to show a few pictures:
This is the equipment I bought. It's a yoga mat, and weights. I actually got 2 sets of weights. It says to get 2 sets (3 & 5 lbs). Ummm, that seems REALLY heavy - so I got 2 sets of 2 & 3 lbs. It also says to get ankle weights. Uh - yeah... luckily Target didn't have those. Because my legs are already on Fire...

This picture is of my daughter and me. My kids have both joined me at various times during the work out. I can remember when my sister and I were real little, we would join my mom who did an aerobics workout to a vinyl record (remember those?). I still remember "1, 2, 3 - kick - 1, 2, 3 - back". We thought it was great fun! I think my kids are having fun with it too! Great stuff!

Keep up with me, I will be "BACK" tomorrow...

DAY 8: Take it E.C. (said in Nacho Libre's accent)

Day 8- I'll start out with a sweet story... I helped out in my daughter's kindergarten classroom today. I love her kindergarten class. Those kids are so dang cute. I was crouching down helping a kid with her shoe, and a boy (that is usually kind of wild) came up and started rubbing my back real gently. I said, "What are you doing?" He said, "Why do I love the mommy's that help out so much?" and I said, "I don't know. Why?" He said, "Because they help me, and they are so nice to me." I told him I was so happy he told me that. It was so sweet - it made my day.

Speaking of making my day, my day was made yesterday by Elizabeth Kim! She mentioned me in her first exercise blog, and said I inspired her... It made me feel great! You should totally check her blog out: http://justdoitfeaturingliz.blogspot.com/

For a little update on the back situation: I am feeling much better. I put on an icy-hot patch this afternoon - and it seemed to help quite a bit - and I have had no medication. I still have a little pain, but have tried to take it easy for the most part. As of tonight, I have been working pretty hard (my husband just got home not long ago) giving the kids dinner, baths, helping with homework, cleaning up messy bedrooms, so I am a little achy in my shoulders, but my back seems to be okay. I think the massage chair is in order though.

Today, I started exercising again. Thank Goodness - after Saturday's back episode, I wasn't sure what would happen. I purposely only did half of the workout. Today was a Cardio work-out (30 min), which I did. And a Sculpting - with weights - workout (30 min), which I purposely did not do. I decided not to do anything involving weights until Friday - just to ease back into it. But I figured Cardio is good, if nothing else. I didn't do a lot of the arm moves. Partly, because I am uncoordinated, but mostly, because I didn't want to tweak my back. I am trying to "Take it Easy". On the upside, I am getting better at some of the dance moves. I'll be dancing like Shakira in no time. :)

Also, while I was exercising, I was very careful to land on my feet, the right way. My friend Jacqueline also has an exercise blog, and she injured herself by not landing on her feet right. Her blog is also great. This blog inspired me to do my blog. Check it out: http://creative-outpour.blogspot.com/2013/10/are-you-exercising-wrong-i-was.html

So that's about it for today... I guess I'll find out tomorrow if I am easing back into it okay.
Until tomorrow, keep on keeping on!!

DAYS 4, 5, 6 & 7: The "Painful" Truth

Hi- I'm back. I thought no one was reading this because I wasn't getting any comments (via Facebook, or on the blog itself). But I've had 2 people ask me to keep going. So I'm not giving up... yet. Hint... hint... :)

Day 4: Thursday - My hubby had meetings all day, and didn't get home till about midnight which left me to deal with getting dinner for the kiddos, and getting their bedtime routines done & them to bed on time, and doing all the clean-up, etc. Plus, Thursday is the day each week we clean the house from top to bottom in the morning. AND I got a new cell phone - but had to go to tarnation and back (3 different stores, in 3 different cities) to get the one we were looking for... and that was the day my 10-year-old son had the homework from hell and he didn't even get to bed till about 11pm. So I was pretty flippin' tired. However, I managed to get all my exercising done (minus 15 minutes) for a total of 50 minutes. But I still felt guilty. Oh well. Not bad for 4 days I guess.

Day 5: Friday - So, due to a busy life of being a mom - I JUST couldn't get it done. I had unforeseen circumstances & stuff I had to do, and other commitments I made, which left me in traffic for over an hour. Again, my husband was gone for most the day in meetings, and my daughter & I to had to walk  to pick up my son from school (1 mile total). Then we had church that night, which got us home after 10pm, and I had every intention of doing my 55 minute workout then - but I was exhausted... and just COULDN'T. I was so tired. I laid down on the couch for a few HOURS till my husband (who cleaned the whole house while I was sleeping - how lucky am I??) woke me up, and told me to go to bed. But at least I walked a mile that day, right?? :)

Day 6: Saturday - This is the painful truth... when my son woke me up at 7am to tell me good morning, I could not move. My upper back was in so much intense pain. I don't know how or when it happened, because it seems that the BBL is working out all areas EXCEPT my upper back. Targeted areas are my butt, my abs (and in turn, lower back), my arms & legs, and then cardio. My upper back is not affected. But this back pain was so intense it was painful to even roll over. My daughter woke up at 8am, and asked me to get her breakfast. So I made her bowl of cereal, and told my son he had to make his own breakfast -- I just couldn't stand up any longer. I managed to grab the heating pad, and laid on it for most of the day. I think I found the most painful part on the upper right side, next to my spine. This is not the first time this area has given me a problem. I can remember laying on a heating pad on the ground while we home-schooled in the past. But it was so bad this time that it affected my whole upper back. I sat in a heated massage chair twice, and it helped. A hot shower helped as well. The jacuzzi helped a little bit too. I took 3 types of medication, and my husband rubbed Bengay on my back for an hour. He could feel several spots of tension. I don't know if laying in the couch on Friday night did it, or if I pulled a muscle earlier that week that I just didn't feel, or what. I do remember on Wednesday (the first day I worked with weights), that after stretching my back, it was very tight. Perhaps I stretched it a little too much. But then, why was it not painful until Saturday? Especially if I didn't work out on Friday?? I don't know. So that was Saturday.  Obviously no workout... for 2 days now.

Day 7: In the BBL plan, Sunday is "rest day," no work-out plan. I got up this morning feeling SO much better. Still in pain, but definitely much better. I took some medication after my shower, and after church I laid on the heating pad for a while. Then I put an icy-hot patch on it, and took a nap. And now, I figured I should probably catch you all up on where I am after a week.

So for my one week recap: I guess I was halfway successful. I really don't like doing a "plan" if I can't follow it all the way. When I was doing it religiously, I was eating all of the right stuff. There is a guide that comes with the DVDs that isn't really a menu, but has options you can pick & choose from. Well, after my "way too much" frozen yogurt on Wednesday night, and not working out on Friday & Saturday, let's just say I had 2 pieces of Dominos pizza for dinner last night and leave the rest to your imagination. :)

I had my sensible, healthy dinner tonight - Grilled chicken, brown rice & broccoli (picture below). And I had a cactus cooler soda along with it - let's not get TOO crazy, now! :)  I do plan to get back on track. It may just take a little longer to get the results I'm looking for. But that's okay. I am learning and growing (hopefully in muscles and not in "squishy-ness"). I guess this program is not just about changing outwardly, but inwardly as well. And I've learned so far that life will get it the way, and that's okay. As long as I do my best, I am becoming more disciplined, and listening to my body, and that's really all I can ask of myself. One thing I do appreciate about the program, is that the guy is constantly saying "Let" your body do the work, don't "Make" your body do the work, especially when it comes to stretching. I think that is one thing I need to work on. I already know I look (and feel) clumsy when I do a lot of the exercises (my son already told me I don't look like the people on the video). Well duh- Thanks so much for your boost of confidence! I probably never will look like them. I hate exercising, remember? Anyhow, I need to do what feels natural, and not push myself too hard. Otherwise, I will injure myself again and burn out quickly!

SO ... for tomorrow - Day 8: The plan says to do a 30 minute cardio workout and a 30 minute Sculpt work out (with weights). Even thought it's only 2 lb weights I use, I think that might be a little too much for me to jump back into. So my plan is to only do the cardio workout. Even if I am not getting all of the exercises in, it's at least getting me back into the routine, and it's something I feel I can handle. Then, I can ease back into it. I am purposely not going to do the sculpting exercises until Friday.
Here's hoping I recover quickly from this back pain, and am able to continue without further injury.

And that - my friends... is the "Painful" Truth!!!

DAY 3: ...and Reality hits

So, I did my exercise routine today (about 55 min). It was "Sculpting". Mostly my arms. Nothing really to report, except for that my butt is feeling a little better. Once again, I just did the best I could, not really doing all the moves I didn't feel capable of, and having fun with it. And just so you know - when you hate exercise, it's HARD to have fun with it. I was very proud of myself for doing all 55 min in one set.
Today, reality hit. It turns out - exercising hard all day makes me a mean person. I am irritable, and impatient. There is an old saying we have in my house (at least between my husband and me). "Don't mess with me when I am Cold, Tired, or Hungry". Now we added "or have been exercising". Today, my husband touched my side in a very loving way, and I snapped back at him "Just don't touch me!"

I just hope this two months goes by fast... for the sake of my poor family. Apparently I was like this when I was pregnant. I love my kids, and am so thankful for them - but being pregnant was the most horrible experience I have ever been through. I am talking being sick all 9 months, for most of the time. And I did it TWICE! The second time, I missed most of my son's 4th year of life, because I couldn't even take care of him. Thank God both of my kids were born healthy, and I am healthy once again. But that is something I could never go through again - not only for my sake (I don't think my body could handle it), but also for my family's sake - mostly my husband who had to take on ALL responsibility, and care for me... and our son. And I was MEAN. There are some things I forgot - but I remember being mean...

Another part of reality hit. I was so tired today, I have been going to bed kind of late - and I guess that is just part of being a mom. Putting the kids to bed, making lunches, cleaning up, and still making time to spend with my husband... I am exhausted. I had to take a 2 hour nap today to recover... If this is what it takes to recover from a workout and not such a good night's sleep - this is going to be a LONG two months. I don't HAVE two hours every day to take a nap... who does?

One more part of this reality: 

I want good food! I have been eating really healthy and following the meal plan really well - still hungry half the time. We went to coffee bean tonight with another couple. I don't drink coffee - I don't even drink tea much... I don't really enjoy hot drinks. But next door was a Yogurtland. And I DO like my Frozen yogurt. Not sure how many oz, I had - but it turned out to be almost $5.00. That is a lot of yogurt. But Boy - was it good - and I ate the WHOLE thing!

Now I am a happy girl! And probably a little nicer for it.

So, I guess reality plays a part in this plan, and I've got to figure out a way to balance it all, in a way that works for my family... I guess it's all a learning process. But for now, Welcome to Reality! 

DAY 2: My Head, My Butt, My Head, My Butt

Did you ever see that animated movie "Everyone's Hero" about a baseball bat that eventually becomes Babe Ruth's bat? Here is the trailer: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SSEpbc2t5Hk

There is a scene in the movie (1:46 in the trailer), where a baseball (named Screwie), falls down some steps. Each time he hits one, he says: My head, my butt, my head, my butt! That's how I felt this morning... Except just my butt. Oh - my- goodness!! I am doing SOMETHING right, because I AM IN PAIN!! You should have seen me walking into the grocery store… pretty funny. I haven’t been in this much pain in my butt & my legs since I was pregnant with my daughter…

And today's exercises are for over an hour!!! Oh joy - here we go! :)

So… I did the exercises. Today it focused on my heart rate, and then the legs.  It was REALLY hard to keep going. I wanted to stop plenty of times. Despite my “pain in the butt”, I improved a little today.  I took it a little easier than yesterday considering I am a beginner. If I felt like I needed to take a little longer to stretch, I did, and didn’t feel like I had to do all the arm movements. When there are too many steps to a “dance” or too many components, arms, legs, hips, abs- I get way confused and a little lost. So I just made sure I was moving, and mimicked it the best I could, even if my body can't yet do what the video does. I just had fun with it. But my butt still hurts. :)

After my workouts tonight, I watched the premier of the “Biggest Loser”. That is my guilty pleasure, so that was my reward. I got into that show 6 years ago, when I was 6 months pregnant. I ate my chips & sat on the couch – they lost weight, as I gained weight. And I wonder why I am so “squishy” now… Hmmm...

DAY 1: Chocolate Easter Bunny Butt

     Today, I started the "Brazil Butt Lift" plan. Two words: Ouchie Mama! The exercises today were pretty hard-core. Bum Bum (35 min) & Tummy Tuck (20 min). To be honest, I had to pause the DVD a few times to catch my breath. Despite the fact that our house is pretty chilly, I definitely worked up a good sweat and a good heart rate. Some of the moves were very basic, and some just made me feel very uncoordinated.

     As of this evening, I've only had about 1000 calories, and can still have dessert (if you count peaches & nonfat greek yogurt as dessert - blechhh!) But I'm gonna try it...only because I am starving!

     As far as soreness goes, I am feeling okay besides my abs being a little sore. After the first 35 min. set, I thought my butt had fallen off... I felt like the Chocolate Easter Bunny on the left! Until tomorrow...

INTRODUCTION: I'm not Fat, just squishy!

     I hate exercising! I always have. All of my life I have been skinny. I have been blessed with good genes that make me look young, and thin & have a high metabolism -- even after having a baby.

     Lucky, huh? Then... I had another baby at 29, and turned 30 the next year. Oy! That was the end if that!

     So... I decided to dedicate the next 2 months of my life to doing the "Brazil Butt Lift". I think I might be a little insane - this thing is hard-core!

     I took "before" pictures last night of my self in a bikini - and no way am I going to post them for the world to see. I also took pictures that were a little more modest in yoga pants & a tank top (for this blog).

     I am by no means FAT... After the birth of my first child (my son), I lost my baby weight very quickly. He liked the stroller, and I liked walking. It was great. 6 weeks post-partum, I was stopped in the grocery store by a lady who couldn't believe I had a newborn baby, being that skinny. At that point, I was 24. 

     Almost 5 years later, I was blessed with another baby (my daughter). Having a 5 year old also with me, I didn't have the luxury of going on a daily walk/run with my baby girl -- who HATED the stroller... so the weight just stayed. Like I said, I am not FAT, but I am not FIT either. I saw a picture recently of myself in a bikini when I was about 22 (pre-children). My stomach was SO flat!!! Now my stomach is anything but flat! My 5 year old daughter describes it as "Squishy". Sometimes I can hide it by "squishing" it into tight clothes or a Kimora "fat sucker-inner". People comment on how thin I am, but I know the truth. Both of my kids have asked me at different times if I am going to have another baby, because my stomach is so round and squishy. Let me say this once: NO! That is NOT happening. My pregnancies are a whole other story! I am NOT pregnant, but sometimes it sure looks that way. When you are relaxed, and your stomach sticks out more than your boobs, THAT is a problem... So - I needed to do SOMETHING.

     

My husband found out about the Brazil Butt Lift (BBL), and asked if it was something I'd be interested in trying. It took a while to convince me, but I agreed. So, that's the plan. Come tomorrow, I will begin to figure this thing out... and try to stay committed despite my deep hatred for EXERCISE SCHMEXERCISE!!

For now, here are the before pictures. Keep in mind the tight pants are holding some of my squishy tummy in, it actually sticks out further.